How to Build an Outside Wall Fountain With a Basin

Decorate your patio or garden wall with an outside fountain, complete with a garden-themed basin. Design the wall fountain with mosaic tiles, river rocks, stained glass nuggets or waterproof paint to create a water feature that suits your property. The mechanics of a wall fountain are not much different than those of a tabletop fountain; each type of fountain needs a pump to circulate the water, a basin to hold the water, and the pump and a channel to direct the water flow.

Things You'll Need

• ¾-inch thick marine board
• Saw
• Two-inch square wood strips
• Waterproof construction adhesive
• Drill
• ½-inch diameter drill bit
• Pebble tiles
• Thinset (optional)
• Exterior grout
• Bucket
• Wooden spoon
• Grout float
• Sponge
• Flexible plastic tubing
• Scissors
• Duct tape
• Two wall hangers
• Screw driver
• Screws
• Rectangular planter, eight-inches deep
• Fountain pump
• Duct tape (optional)

Instructions

1. Saw a ¾-inch thick marine plywood board into the desired size of the outside wall fountain. Saw four two-inch long sections of two-inch square wood strips. Glue the wood strips to each corner on one side of the marine plywood with waterproof construction adhesive. The wood strips elevate the marine wood fountain base from the wall.

2. Place the marine plywood face up so that it rests on all four wood strips. Drill a ½-inch hole in the center of the plywood, all the way through the plywood.

3. Dry fit interlocking pebble tiles onto the face-up side of the marine plywood. Cut the tile sheets so that the drilled hole remains open. Fold the pebble tiles around all edges of the plywood.

4. Remove the pebble tiles in order. Glue each tile in place onto the marine plywood with waterproof construction adhesive. If you’re making a large wall fountain, you may wish to attach the tiles using thinset. Wait 24 hours for the adhesive to dry completely.

5. Follow the manufacturer’s directions to mix exterior grout that coordinates with the colors of the pebble tiles. Spread the wet grout between each of the pebbles with a grout float or with your fingers. Within minutes of spreading the grout, wash the pebbles with a warm sponge to completely remove any grout residue. Leave the wall fountain to dry for 24 hours.

6. Cut a strip of flexible plastic tubing to run from the drilled hole in the wall fountain to the floor. For example, if you plan to hang the bottom of the wall fountain four feet off the ground, cut a section of tubing 4½-feet long. Flip the wall fountain over so that the wood strips are face up. Insert the tip of one end of the plastic tube through the drilled hole. Tape the tube in place with duct tape.

7. Attach with screws two wall hangers onto the two wood strips in the top two corners of the wall fountain. Attach the corresponding section of each hanger to the wall where you plan to hang the fountain. Hang the wall board so that the plastic tube falls beneath the fountain board.

8. Position a rectangular planter with no drainage holes on the ground beneath the wall fountain. The planter should span the length of the wall board and be at least eight inches deep. Place a fountain pump inside the planter. Attach the free end of the plastic tube to the pump spout. Seal around the tube with duct tape, if necessary for a tight fit.

9. Fill the planter with water. Plug in the pump to circulate the water from the planter, through the tube and out of the drilled hole in the wall board. Move the planter basin as needed to catch the water flowing from the wall fountain.

References

• Marigold Lane: How to Make a Simple Outdoor Fountain

Resources

• Hometips: Outdoor Water Feature Considerations